Happy Wednesday, friends! I'm here with Joyce again today for the weekly hodgepodge...this is a post that I dearly love; thank you, Joyce, for your inspiring and thought provoking questions each and every week! I'll jump right in.
1. Are you more life of the party, or a party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle, which side do you lean towards more? I'm definitely in the middle, but I lean more towards being a party pooper. I am introverted deep down in my soul, and part of me hates being in a crowd, even still.
Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what's your favorite kind of party? Of these, I would definitely say birthday, cocktail, or dinner party as my top choices!
2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list? I think women improve with age! If you go back and look at pictures of yourself versus twenty years ago, chances are you'll think you've improved in the looks department. I know I think like this! I also think this is true of men. Aside from looks, I think we as humans improve with age. I know I love this version of me so much more than the younger, more naive, version of me.
3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don't you? I love my birthday and feel like it's a big deal. I always want to spend time with my sons and my mom every year on this day. I would never want a surprise party, though! My favorite birthday so far was last year when my best friends and I met for dinner on the night of my birthday.
This wasn't that night, but these were the wonderful friends that were there to celebrate me!
4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? This is terrible, but the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting happened on my birthday in 2012.
5. Share two good things about your life right now. Two good things in my life right now are my home being decorated for fall and freshly painted/redecorated, and my work life. I love my job, friends! I love the students, my co-workers, and the very different schedule that each day brings.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I saw these on Instagram yesterday morning and loved them! It reminds me of a song...and on that note (see what I did there?), I am excited about getting to sing a song in church this weekend! It's one that I sang a few years ago, and it's called Still I Will Praise You. I sang it before just fine, but this time it feels more personal to me, since it's a song that is now my testimony. I haven't been able to sing it without getting choked up, so if you're the praying type, will you pray that I can get through it without a breakdown on stage? Here are part of the lyrics:
When the cares of life are just too much
And I have to drink a bitter cup
When I come to You with desperate cries
But it's only silence that replies
When the wilderness becomes Your plan
And I reach but I don't feel Your hand
When I think this night will never end
And the darkness is my only friend
Still I will praise You, Still I will praise You
Still my trust in You remains
Still You are sovereign
Still You are faithful
Still I praise Your Name
When my heart would choose a path of ease
And my soul a joyful song to sing
But You lead me into suffering
When my tears become an offering
Still I will praise You, Still I will praise You
Still my trust in You remains
Still You are sovereign
Still You are faithful
Still I will praise Your Name
I can't wait to read your answers to these fun prompts! Thanks for being here to read my blog again today, friends. Love to all!
Jenn
Great answers and I'm so happy you love your job! I think it's important to feel like you are meant for it and that you are appreciated. Do you feel that way? It's also nice to have set hours even though within those hours things are not always the same.
ReplyDeleteI truly love my job. I feel extremely valued and appreciated, and that I was meant to do just this. Part of this is the team of people I work with! They're the very best of the best, and I am grateful. I totally agree with what you're saying about the routine of set hours with different things each day within those set hours. It feels like the perfect conundrum! I'm always excited to go back each day, and even after a hard day, I remember that a new morning brings new opportunities. I really love the students, too! I love that I'm forming connections with so many of them; I've noticed the girls flock to me, and so do the older boys! They love that I have sons who love sports, so we have that to talk about together. I get a lot of one on one time with them all!
DeleteOk first I am so surprised that you are an introvert! I would've said extrovert a million times over- ha! I totally agree with women improving with age- feel the same way about looks, etc- too funny!
ReplyDeleteI call myself an extroverted introvert a lot, but I really do love to be home to recharge my batteries...as long as it's not for too long a time. I'm very outgoing, though, and not shy at all which is probably why you thought that. That's so great that we all improve with age, right? I'm glad for this!
DeleteThose lyrics are amazing and I can imagine how the sound will come out from a heart that has lived those words to its core. I will be thinking of and praying for you regarding it. I enjoyed reading your answers and am glad your job is going so well. What a relief, huh? You just never know when you start a new job how it´s going to go...
ReplyDeleteAren't they beautiful? Thank you for thinking of me and for your prayers! I will need them. It's such a relief to say that I love my job! I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it, but I really do feel excited to wake up and go to work each day. What a gift from God! I don't take this for granted at all, because He is the one who gave me the perfect job that I wasn't even looking for. It's amazing how He lined it all up for me.
DeleteI hope you have a great day, my friend!
I wouldn't have guessed you're an introvert either. It's such a blessing to find a job you love, and I'm glad that's happened for you. I hope you'll share a clip of the song. Such beautiful lyrics!
ReplyDeleteI'm less so than I used to be, but some things never completely change! I agree about the job being a blessing. I feel so fortunate to be able to say this! I'll have to see what I can share after Sunday.
DeleteI am not a fan of crowds either, even when we go out to an event I still like to have my own space, sat in a corner somewhere.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I cringe at the photos from me 20 years ago, I know I have improved with age.
I hope the singing goes well, those lyrics really are amazing!
I do the same thing, usually...I find a corner to sit or stand in. Isn't that amazing how well we age? Thanks, friend!
DeleteOh my home decorated for fall - yes, that is a favorite thing right now! I'm sure yours is super cozy. Just makes home even more "home," doesn't it??:)
ReplyDeleteYes! I love it so much. I agree about it making home more home-y!
DeleteSuch a beautiful song! I think you are an extrovert! Even as an extrovert, we all need to be home from time to time. Your birthday celebration was so fun last year!
ReplyDeleteI might be...I go back and forth all the time. It doesn't matter, in the grand scheme of life, but I like knowing this about myself. I thought it was fun, too!
DeleteRight there with you on being more of a party pooper; I dislike crowds so much. Even concerts and shows I like an aisle seat so I can trick myself into thinking I have an easy out/getaway. Since I don't drink I don't like cocktail parties either but dinner parties are usually okay since I can just listen to the table chatter and smile.. and eat.
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile! I totally get all of those feelings. I'm shocked that I was able to attend concerts over the summer and not freak out. Marilyn could be right, though...maybe I am an extrovert. Who knows?
DeleteWhat a blessing that your job brings you joy. It doesn't always work out that way. I'm in the middle on the partying too. I like how Amy put it - I love a party until I don't!
ReplyDeleteI think so too! I'm thankful for this. I love how she said that as well!
DeleteI totally agree that women improve with age! We become wiser and more insightful. Great answer there.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're liking your new job!
Isn't that amazing? Women are remarkable, in my opinion. I love that added wisdom and insight, too. Thanks for that, friend! Do you have a blog that you write on?
DeleteI don't; just a reader right now. But I've found so many wonderful writers around the internet that I may start one to be more in the community! I'll let you know!
DeleteI always love reading your Hodgepodge posts! I can relate so much to being more on the introverted side… I’m the same way in crowds, but I do love smaller gatherings like dinner parties too. I really loved your answer about improving with age…that’s such a refreshing perspective, and I agree completely. How special that your favorite birthdays have been spent simply with family and friends…those really are the best celebrations.
ReplyDeleteYour random thought touched me… what a powerful song and testimony. I will definitely be praying for you as you sing this weekend, that God gives you peace and strength to get through it without breaking down, and that your words bless everyone who hears. What a gift to be able to share your heart in that way!